Okay, I'm starting this thread in the spirit of public-service so that the nice people out west who did get to go to these shows will have a place to come and tell us their stories without having to go to the bother of opening up a thread for themselves.  Adele is away, Torri is distracted somehow (I sense),  and we can't have the place go to pot...I mean, wrack and ruin while they are gone.

---

"Over straight and crooked miles
Falling out of favour or embraced
Wondering where was love...
It hadn't happened yet"
~Ron Sexsmith~

Nearest to all things
Patiently waiting
So let the angels sing
Silently weeping

Well Ann, I think that you are the most thoughtful person on the board!! You go above and beyond... It's not that we the unfortunate ones that were left behind, are overly curious and are on the verge of having simultaneous meltdowns or anything...

I just had the worst thought! What if they were all taken to jail for rushing the stage! Or maybe they all were caught up in the moment and decided to do a little stripe tease!! It could happen! In fact it has!! Oh boy, we really may need to start a collection to bail them out!!

Oh Ann...starting a thread on our behalf...you really are too sweet!  I guess the shows were so amazing that they've rendered all of us Malkin Bowlers speechless!! 

To indulge you, I'll put in a few words, but I'm not much of a writer...

Both shows were incredible...lovely, warm weather and Blue Rodeo playing while the sun goes down...how much more perfect can a summer night be?  Although there seemed to be more energy in the bowl on Saturday night, I personally enjoyed Friday night more...probably because our seats were better.  We were in the 7th row - right smack in the centre, so we could see everyone on stage.  On Saturday night we were right of centre (Greg side) which I don't mind at all, except that I love watching Glenn play those drums, and Greg was 100% blocking my view!  

A highlight for me was definitely when Jim played After the Rain...absolutely beautiful.  Like AG, I could've listened to him play that all night long.  (sigh)  And Greg sang Glad to Be Alive on Saturday night...it stirred my heart to hear the passion and energy in his voice.  I won't bother trying to give a full setlist because there's no way I could possibly remember, and I've never written one in my life (I wouldn't know what to write it on!!) 

Okay...the bird poop....well, the band walked on stage Friday night, and within seconds Greg was laughing out loud, and suddenly we all realized that a bird plopped right on Jim's head.   Poor Jim!  What a way to begin the night!  But it's good luck right?  And Jim handled it so well...he's so good natured and just laughed it off.  Of course, Kathleen Edwards couldn't help poking fun at Jim though while they sang Bad Timing together...she dangled a feather in her hands and smirked throughout the whole song.  She obviously has a great sense of humour! 

Anyway, I'm sorry this is short Ann...but I need to make dinner, but  I'm sure other people have a lot more to add.   As always, a concert in the park is a fabulous way to wind up summer, and it was great to see everyone again (although the meetings were brief...especially Saturday night!  Hmmm...could it have something to do with those backstage passes?!?)   

Let's keep our fingers crossed that the boys come out west in the fall!     

---

"...out dancing all lit by the moon...cold winds of time in her hair."

Carrington:

Well Ann, I think that you are the most thoughtful person on the board!! You go above and beyond... It's not that we the unfortunate ones that were left behind, are overly curious and are on the verge of having simultaneous meltdowns or anything...

You are too kind!  Of course it's nothing like an overactive sense of curiousity or anything like that. Nothing like wanting to know exactly what three minutes means in the big scheme of things or the juicy details of what's got nothing to do with me anyway.... oh nooo.......not me!  I'm pretty sure no-one else is checking this thread either.  Nope!

 

---

"Over straight and crooked miles
Falling out of favour or embraced
Wondering where was love...
It hadn't happened yet"
~Ron Sexsmith~

Nearest to all things
Patiently waiting
So let the angels sing
Silently weeping

Thanks for posting Blue Moon! You see Carrington?  Seek and ye shall find.  Ask and you shall receive.

I'm so glad the weather was good for all of the shows. The pictures posted by The Arrogant Worms really told the story too.

---

"Over straight and crooked miles
Falling out of favour or embraced
Wondering where was love...
It hadn't happened yet"
~Ron Sexsmith~

Nearest to all things
Patiently waiting
So let the angels sing
Silently weeping

Ann, Ann, Ann, you are not only kind and thoughtful but wise too!! You were right, and I'm ever so glad that you asked!

And thanks Blue Moon! I'm happy that you had the best of times! You lucky lady! You likely won't have to walk this week, you'll just float on that cloud you are on!! Oh I almost forgot, 100% view of Greg, you had the best seats in the place! Isn't that right Ann? LOL!! Well sorta LOL, I did mean what I said...ah...100% Greg...Thanks for sharing your Blue Rodeo nights with us.

Ann you are so thoughtful!  

We have had an amazing few days and now the party is over.  I just walked Bluegirl over to the bus which will deliver her to the airport.   I will try to write a bit of a review tonight although it is possible I will fall asleep at the computer as sleep was not the priority of the weekend.  For me Saturday was 100 times better than Friday.  Glad to Be Alive was INCREDIBLE on Saturday.  Assuming it was the same version we heard in Vancouver the reviewer who thought After The Rain went on too long in Toronto is on crack.  This new version is fabulous.  Ok - that's a start - I will return later tonight or tomorrow. 

Oh and for any Vancouverites out there we were lucky enough to talk to Jim for a few minutes and when he does his solo show it will be at the COMMODORE!!!!  

Greg said he will be out here in October but he wasn't sure when or where.  It is going to be a great fall.

More to come.....

---

Greg Keelor met Jim Cuddy and then I met you people. Serendipity is a marvellous thing.


"I guess I don't know if I believe in God but
I know a song can make you feel good once
in a while." ~Greg Keelor~

I'm going to wait for Hazy to do her version of the weekend and then I will add to it if she misses anything.  7 hours of sleep over the weekend, I'm about ready to pass out for the night.

I will add though that another great highlight was when Barney Bentall joined BR and plaid a song from his new CD.  It's a good CD folks!!

K I gotta get some sleep.....night folks!

Ok this is only my 2nd post on this forum...My first was a little on the negative side following last years Malkin Bowl preformance, due to Jims Voice issues, and what I felt was an obvious tension between Greg and Jim that night...Even though I had still enjoyed it, it wasnt their finest moment for sure.....Perhaps this Saturday Night just might have been one of their finest moments though.....Boy did they make up for last year! "After the Rain", "Try", and "Bad Timing"  were my highlights, and perhaps the shows highlight was "Hasn't Hit Me Yet"  When the crowd TOTALLY got into it, 100% standing, and remained so through the 3 encore songs after....My thoughts on this song is that Barney Bentall shouldnt have joined them on this song (even though he did an excellent job on it) and the crowd should have been able to take it as they normally do....I think thats always a highlight of a Blue Rodeo show....My opinion anyway..  What was funny in a way, was Kathleen ranting on the Friday Night crowd for sitting on their butts throughout the whole show, and urging the Saturday night crowd to get up and DANCE...Every time someone tried though  Security would rush over and sit em down...Come on Malkin Bowl...Let the people have some fun!!   Eventually the crowd won out and the entire place was on its feet and having fun the way they should....Anyone that decided against going this year, based on last years show,       Yah all missed a good one!    Way to go guys !!

Thinking of making the Drive up to Oliver this year to see them.....Cant think of a better way to spend a weekend!

Cashet

HazySoul:

Ann you are so thoughtful!  

 Assuming it was the same version we heard in Vancouver the reviewer who thought After The Rain went on too long in Toronto is on crack.  This new version is fabulous.  Ok - that's a start - I will return later tonight or tomorrow. 

Oh and for any Vancouverites out there we were lucky enough to talk to Jim for a few minutes and when he does his solo show it will be at the COMMODORE!!!!  

Greg said he will be out here in October but he wasn't sure when or where.  It is going to be a great fall.

More to come.....

 

Please Carrington, Hazy...do not attempt to distract me with flattery LOL!

We need setlists!  Details! 

Phthbahaha!  The reviewer is perhaps on crack or perhaps on pot or perhaps a crackpot - we may never know.

So nice you have a Jim show to look forward to!

And if other wonderful rumours I've heard are true, the Sadies will be joining  Greg on that tour and you will not be crying into your beer... I mean Sambuca for long!

 

---

"Over straight and crooked miles
Falling out of favour or embraced
Wondering where was love...
It hadn't happened yet"
~Ron Sexsmith~

Nearest to all things
Patiently waiting
So let the angels sing
Silently weeping

Heres the setlist from Saturdays show...

Till I Am Myself Again

Rose Coloured Glasses

Better Off As We Are

Side of the Road

What am I doing here

Cynthia

Bad Timing (with Kathleen Edwards)

Head Over Heels

Glad to be Alive

Five Days in May

English Bay

Rena

Dream of the Day (Barney Bentall's new song)

After the Rain

Diamond Mine

Hasn't Hit me Yet (with Barney Bentall)

Encore: Try, Heart Like Mine, Love and Understanding

 

---

"Youve got to live through it to get rid of it." - Greg Keelor

Thanks for all the details everyone!! What I wouldn't give to hear Love and Understanding again live....what a treat!

Glad you enjoyed yourselves (go get some rest now, Already Gone!!)  I know it's hard to wind down after such a whirlwind of a time!

---

....formerly "LJo"

Sorry it has taken so long to post about the weekend shows but we were busy busy busy. There was the beach that needed attending, the beer that need to be consumed and the laughter which was pretty much happening 24/7. Needless to say we had a very fun weekend.

Here are some thoughts about Friday night.

Friday night was the first show and it would have been impossible to have had a nicer night to enjoy a show in the park. Last year we were all in blue rain ponchos but this year nature cooperated with nothing but blue skies & sunshine.

Before the show some of the gang congregated at my place for a quick dinner & a few drinks. Not only did we luck out with Bluegirl coming to town but the Schwas happened to be here too. Just before we left for the show schwa_girl sang Burning Snowmen to get us in the mood. It worked.

HOB claimed the ‘doors' opened at 6:00 with the show starting at 7:00. We were a little late arriving & not surprised that Kathleen Edwards had started her set. Unfortunately the set was very short because they had started a half an hour early.   It's too bad for the band that HOB didn't provide the right time as I am sure a lot of people were sorry to miss so much of her set.   It pretty hard to get to a show on a Friday night for 6:30.

The excitement of the crowd as the band walked on stage soon turned to glorious laughter. As soon as they got near the mikes Jim leaned over to say something to Greg. Greg started laughing like crazy. It seemed a bird had decided to poop on Jim. I am not sure if everyone could see Jim getting cleaned up by one of the crew but from our angle you could. He almost went out with some left in his hair but Bob Packwood saved the day by pointing it out to the clean up dude.  Greg couldn't have been more delighted about Jim's good ‘luck'.   As BlueMoon said Jim took it in stride and just laughed it off. Kathleen was hilarious taunting Jim with the bird feather during Bad Timing.  I have a feeling that girl would be a lot of fun to hang with. I don't know about these Park shows, last year Greg had a big black eye and this year Jim got pooped on.

I can't remember the setlist but it was a fun night. Highlights for me on Friday night were Cynthia which of course is one of my faves but they are doing this new funky intro which I loved. A very nice surprise was the show ending with Love & Understanding. As always it was great to have Barney Bentall join the boys for a song. He sang Dream of the Day which is on his new album (which btw is GREAT) with Greg & Jim backing him. I wished Barney had stuck around for a few more songs. I love when they do The Weight with Barney. Maybe next year.

I really loved hearing Jim do such a fabulous version of After the Rain.  At last year's shows Jim voice was in really bad shape.  I remember feeling really sad for him (and us) because he only did about a third of the songs and none of them involved high notes.  The year before he didn't make the high note on After The Rain the first night it was great to hear this fabulous version.  I really like when Jim plays the piano. 

Friday was a lot of fun for me because I won tickets for this show so some friends who had only seen BR once were able to come and they enjoyed themselves.  I also got to bring my friend Christy to her first BR show which she loved.  It's always fun being there for someone's first show. 

Friday's show was a lot of fun and the guys played well but Saturday for me was WAY better.  More about that later.

After the show we all headed to the pub for a while. Some of the gang thought a good night sleep was in order and some didn't. It's fair to say nobody got a great sleep that night......

---

Greg Keelor met Jim Cuddy and then I met you people. Serendipity is a marvellous thing.


"I guess I don't know if I believe in God but
I know a song can make you feel good once
in a while." ~Greg Keelor~

Now this..."this" is the kind of detail people are looking for!  The real poop, you might say.   Mike&Lisa, Kashet and Hazy Soul - you are all to be commended!   

 I am staying tuned for the story on Saturday night.  And where is Adele now?

Oh yoo-hoo....A-d-e-l-e.....where a-r-e  y-o-u.....?  Adele....comeoutcomeout wherever you are.....

---

"Over straight and crooked miles
Falling out of favour or embraced
Wondering where was love...
It hadn't happened yet"
~Ron Sexsmith~

Nearest to all things
Patiently waiting
So let the angels sing
Silently weeping

Sounds like a fun time in the Malkin Bowl!!  It's always great to get together other BR lovers!

---

"How the best things are won with sacrifice"